Dr. Richard Stanley Gibbon went to be with his Lord and Savior Aug. 11, 2011. He lived an abundant life and finished the race in his gracious manner. Richard was born in 1947 to Dr. C. I. Gibbon and Jean M. Gibbon in San Francisco. At the age of two he arrived with his family in North Idaho. Other than his schooling at the University of Montana and dental school in Portland, Ore., he always called North Idaho his home.

He has had a successful dental practice for 38 years in Post Falls. Richard always was concerned for the well-being of his patients. His daughter, Dr. Whitney Frank, joined him in his practice just recently.

In 1969 he married Christine, his beloved wife of 42 years. They were blessed with two children, Whitney and Matthew. Raising their family was truly a delight to both of them.

Besides being an excellent husband and father, Richard was outstanding in many activities including fishing, cycling, and cross-country skiing. In 1998 he raced in the World Cup Cross Country Master Ski race at Lake Placid. In his age group, he placed among the top 3 in the nation and top 10 in the world.

Richard did a number of long cross-country bike trips, but one of his favorite and most frequent rides was the Centennial Trail. He was dedicated to fitness and felt a great sense of community surrounding the trail and the people he met there.

He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew, and is survived by his wife, Christine Gibbon, daughter and son-in-law, Whitney and Conrad Frank, sister Sally Montandon, brothers Thomas Gibbon, MD, and Larry Gibbon, MD, mother-in-law Josephine Russell and respective families.

The memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations in Richard's name to be sent to Centennial Trail of North Idaho at 105 N. First St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

Please visit Richard's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.